The Time is Now
How are you all? I'm being interviewed over at Jera's Jamboree today, with advice for aspiring writers, and a giveaway.
I was just listening to some Ella to celebrate what would have been her 96th birthday. We've spoken often about her on WKDN, she's one of my all time favourites, a musical and modest genius - remember her 'it's the song not the singer' line? I came across 'Heart and Soul'. Hands up who can play that on the piano? It's one of those melodies, along with Chopsticks and Fur Elise, that anyone who touched a piano as a child can still play. It's the only duet my daughter and I can play - yet. She's learning piano for the first time, I'm re-learning. She has a wonderful Russian violinist from the Qatar Philharmonic teaching her, meanwhile I'm picking up where I left off, mooching around with jazz songbooks and Oscar Peterson's scales, with considerably less skill than my eleven year old.
But it's fun. Giving up music was always a regret - so I've started playing again. As was giving up French after school - so I'm having lessons to become fluent. They're both things I love that got lost somewhere along the way. The number one lesson I have learnt in the last year it is that life is short, and fast, and far too sweet to have any regrets.
Second Lesson: whatever it is that you have dreamt of doing, that time is now. Start making it happen - today. Break it down into achievable steps if you have to, but do it. Want to write a book? The only difference between all those millions of people who 'have a book in them' and the ones who write them is that writers sat down and wrote. They had the guts and determination to sit down day after day, month after month and write their hearts out. Next to raw talent, determination and perseverance are the single most important characteristics of a writer. Add patience to that. Not my strongest virtue, but you get used to it. Submissions to agents, publishers, take weeks, often months - everyone is busy. The best advice I can give is to get on with new work - do not, and I repeat from bitter experience six, seven years ago, do not pin all your hopes and dreams on one piece of work. The hope, the waiting nearly kills you.
So, Third Lesson: If you have work out there, go, write something fresh and new, and try and forget about it. Do not check emails compulsively, do not sit by the phone waiting for it to ring like a lovesick teenager waiting for 'him' or 'her' to call. These things come in good time. This morning I was looking through the file of work I have 'out there' before sending new work into the wild. There are articles and editorial planned and being published, new novels and ideas afloat, but a couple of short stories are still under consideration after months of waiting - since June last year. (I checked, they haven't got lost, it genuinely is taking that long ...). *Deep breath* repeat after me: 'patience is a virtue ...'
If you too have the patience of a grasshopper you have my sympathy. I wish you the ability to keep your eyes front and get on with writing new work, and not get distracted by all the hoo-haa on the internet. My new favourite Twitter stream is @dontgotogoodreads. You might enjoy the great tongue in cheek advice, like: "Just keep telling yourself that GR is for readers. If they wanted you around, they'd call it GoodAuthors. Go write your book."
So. Here's the question for the day: what do you love that you've left behind? What could you re-learn, or learn anew that would bring joy and fulfilment? If you feel like sharing, do comment below. And don't forget the copy of 'The Perfume Garden' audiobook giveaway - still a couple of days to enter, see the box below.
Let's finish with a thought for the day from the great Ray Bradbury: “Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The word is love." Perhaps the best lesson any of us can learn. If you need your faith in humanity restored, this via Buzzfeed, is a great collection of everyday miracles, and examples of love in its purest form. Have a great weekend, and happy writing x
